Skip to main content
Carmel Valley Ranch
Chicago Athletic Association

This is what happens when you invest in a dream not just a blueprint.

About Geolo

This is what happens when your building materials are vision, courage,
and imagination.

About Geolo

Preserving the integrity of an idea does not merely take money. It takes courage.

About Geolo

The John Pritzker Family Group invests globally in real estate,
fixed income, and equities across several strategies. 

Thompson Hotel Austin

ABOUT JPFG

The John Pritzker Family Group is a private investment firm that manages the assets of John Pritzker and his family. The Family’s permanent capital base allows it to focus on long-term, risk-adjusted returns and engage in a broad range of investment activities and asset classes. JPFG invests globally in fixed income, equities, hedge funds, private equity, venture capital and real assets. We also invest alongside top decile outside managers with a demonstrated long-term record and reputation for excellence. 

Thompson Hotel DC

WHAT WE DO

Geolo Capital, founded in 2005, is the San Francisco-based private equity investment arm of the John Pritzker Family Group. Historically focused on the hospitality and consumer sectors, Geolo is now a vertically integrated developer, investor and lender for hospitality and multifamily real estate. Geolo’s focus on long-term and sustainable growth in enterprise value is built on an in-depth understanding of industry fundamentals, established knowledge of demographic trends and consumer behavior.

  • Since inception in 2005, Geolo has invested in real estate projects representing over $3.0B of total capitalization.
  • Geolo’s multi-generational relationships and dynamic approach to evaluating risk-reward enables the firm to source and close compelling off-market transactions.
  • Geolo has the ability to invest across the capital stack including GP Equity, Co-GP Equity, LP Equity, Preferred Equity, and Mezzanine Debt.

Learn more about Geolo Capital

Ventana Big Sur
Ventana Big Sur
Case Studies

Two Roads Hospitality

Building a whole greater than the sum of its parts

Beginning in 2010, Geolo led a series of acquisitions and mergers between four carefully chosen, highly unique hotel management companies.

Learn more

Carmel Valley Ranch
Carmel Valley Ranch
Case Studies

Carmel Valley Ranch

Repositioning an Outdated Resort

When Geolo invested in the 500-acre Carmel Valley Ranch (The Ranch) property in 2009, the property was losing millions of dollars every year.

Learn more

Chicago Athletic Association
Chicago Athletic Association
Case Studies

Chicago Athletic Association

Adaptive Reuse of a Historic Landmark

In 2013, Geolo led the acquisition of the historic Chicago Athletic Association (CAA) building.

Learn more

A Timeline of

Milestones

2024

  • Delivery of seven, new-construction, Class A apartment projects representing $400M+ of total asset value, and more than 1,000 multifamily units, across various MSAs including Boise, Denver, Durham, Portland, and Chicago.
  • Joint Venture between Left Lane, Serta, and Geolo completes renovation and repositioning of the luxury 149-key Hotel Bardo located in Savannah, GA.

2023

  • As part of its new multifamily initiative, Geolo opens two new luxury, Class A apartment projects: The RinRose in Pasadena, CA (100 MF Units) and The Heron in Chicago, IL (78 MF Units).
  • Geolo begins renovations at Carmel Valley Ranch, adding new luxury guest suites and refreshing multiple F&B outlets and meeting spaces including the Valley Kitchen restaurant, the Think Tank meeting venue, and the family-friendly River Ranch.

2022

  • Geolo begins construction on Greyhound Flats in the River North neighborhood of Denver, CO. This 185-unit development marks Geolo's third residential project in the city, bringing its Denver multifamily presence to over 400 units, representing $170 million of project value.
  • Geolo commences construction on 111 Willoughby, a mixed-use high-rise tower consisting of 227 residential units in the heart of downtown Brooklyn, NY

2021

  • Hector Calderon joins Geolo Capital as Chief Investment Officer to drive continued growth in the residential and multifamily sectors
  • Geolo Capital acquired and commenced construction on 3,500 residential units, representing more than $600 million of project value
  • Ventana Big Sur sold for a record-setting $2.5M per key

2020

  • New Joint Venture Between BentallGreenOak, Flank Management LP and Geolo Capital Leads to Acquisition of Hutton Hotel in Nashville
  • Real estate software startup Livly raises $8M; Investors include private equity group Geolo Capital
  • Thompson Washington D.C. Hotel sold to Union Investment Group

2019

  • Geolo Capital places a venture investment in Fra'Mani Handcrafted Foods
  • Geolo Capital launches a new hospitality finance vertical with two closed transactions: Alila Marea in Encinitas, CA and Kimpton Buckhead in Atlanta, GA
  • Geolo Capital places a venture investment in Ori Living

2018

  • Two Roads Hospitality agrees to be acquired by Hyatt
  • Geolo Capital places a venture investment in WhyHotel
  • Travel + Leisure announces Alila Hotels (#9) and Thompson Hotels (#17) in their 2018 list of Top 20 Hotel Brands in the World
  • Announced new construction project with two hotels in multi-use building in Austin, TX; opening 2021
  • Two Roads Hospitality ranked 4th largest management company by Hotel Business (based on gross annual revenue)

2017

  • Thompson Washington D.C. project announced; opening in 2019
  • Ventana Big Sur reopened after $20M renovation including new Glamping sites

2016

  • Commune Hotels & Resorts merges with Destination Hotels to form Two Roads Hospitality, over 90 hotels under management
  • The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel, completes a historic renovation with condominiums opens in NYC
  • Thompson Seattle, a ground up, mixed-use and multi-family project opens
  • Thompson Nashville, a 224-room hotel opens in the Gulch

2015

  • In partnership with Wanxiang and Sterling Bay, purchases and renovates Hotel Talbott in Chicago, IL
  • Wanxiang invests in Carmel Valley Ranch, and in a joint venture with Geolo Capital purchases Ventana Big Sur in California
  • Chicago Athletic Association Hotel opens after an extensive renovation of an 1893 building

2014

  • Alila Hotels, a luxury lifestyle brand with hotels in Southeast Asia, China and India, was acquired by Geolo Capital
  • Epiphany Hotel opens after an adaptive-reuse renovation in Palo Alto, CA

2013

  • Geolo Capital acquires the remaining interest of Thompson Hotels; 40 hotels under management of Commune Hotels & Resorts in the U.S., Canada and U.K.

2012

  • The first JDV hotel opens outside of California: Hotel Lincoln in Chicago, IL

2011

  • Merger of JDV and Thompson Hotels; creating Commune Hotels & Resorts - the first international multi-brand lifestyle hospitality management company

2010

  • Joie de Vivre acquired by Geolo Captial

2009

  • Purchase of Carmel Valley Ranch in Carmel Valley, CA

2005

  • Founding of Geolo Capital

2002-2003

  • Odyssey Club, a private residency club; sold to Exclusive Resorts

1998-2001

  • In 1998 John Pritzker invested in Mandara Spa and helped to bring Asia's leading spa company to North America; in 1999 Shiseido acquired a minority stake in the Company and in 2001 the Company was acquired by Steiner Leisure